Clinical Chemistry Test Procedure Pdf
Ogier Dudley
Blood chemistry tests are blood tests that measure amounts of certain chemicals in a sample of blood. They show how well certain organs are working and can help find abnormalities. Blood chemistry tests may also be called chemistry panels.
There are many types of blood chemistry tests. They measure chemicals including enzymes, electrolytes, fats (also called lipids), hormones, sugars, proteins, vitamins and minerals. Often several chemicals are grouped together and measured at the same time.
Some medicines may also affect blood chemistry test results. You may be asked to stop taking certain medicines before having blood chemistry tests. Check if you should avoid any medicines and for how long.
Blood is usually taken from a vein in the arm. An elastic band (a tourniquet) is wrapped around your upper arm to apply pressure to the area and make the veins easier to see. You may be asked to make a fist so the veins stand out more. The skin is cleaned and disinfected. A needle is inserted into the vein and a small amount of blood is removed. You may feel a prick or stinging sensation.
The blood is collected in a tube and labelled with your name and other identifying information. Sometimes more than one tube of blood is collected. The tourniquet is removed and the needle is withdrawn. You may feel mild discomfort when the needle is withdrawn. Pressure is applied to the area where the needle was inserted until bleeding stops. A small bandage may be put on the area.
Blood chemistry test results are given as numbers and often depend on certain factors including sex, age and medical history. They should be compared to a normal reference range and to previous results to have meaning.
Some blood chemistry tests show specific health problems. Other blood chemistry tests provide more general information that can give doctors clues to possible health problems. Information from blood chemistry tests may help doctors decide whether other tests or procedures are needed to make a diagnosis. The information may also help your doctor develop or revise treatment plans.
Preparing children before a test or procedure can help lower their anxiety, increase their cooperation and develop their coping skills. This includes explaining to children what will happen during the test, such as what they will see, feel and hear.
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Clinical chemistry is the biochemical analysis of body fluids in support of the diagnosis and treatment of disease. Testing in this specialty utilizes chemical reactions to identify or quantify levels of chemical compounds in bodily fluids.
We offer basic and comprehensive metabolic panels (Met B and Met C) that check for electrolyte abnormalities, organ function as the kidneys, and other metabolic abnormalities. The Met B panel includes an electrolyte panel, kidney function tests, glucose, and calcium.
A comprehensive metabolic panel (Met C) includes an electrolyte panel, kidney function tests, and liver function tests, glucose, and calcium. The Met C panel differs from Met B panel in that it includes tests for liver function.
The lipid panel is used to assess a person's risk of developing cardiovascular disease or as a preventive measure to check any risks depending on factors like eating habits, diet, stress, exercise, and lifestyle-related. The standard lipid panel typically measures the total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides blood levels.
Clinical Chemistry offers evaluation of drug level monitoring for efficacy and dosage timing in transplant recipients and other key patient populations. Accurate measurements of therapeutic medication levels support optimal dosage. Tests are offered for monitoring therapy with various antiepileptic, cardiac chemotherapeutic, and immunosuppressive drug, and forevaluating suspected poisonings. Immunosuppressive drugs (cyclosporine, tacrolimus and sirolimus) are analyzed using state of the art tandem mass spectrometry.
We provide a full spectrum of testing for the study of hormones, and the diagnosis of endocrine disorders. Rapid results are available for a range of assays including, diabetes diagnosis and monitoring and thyroid function testing. Our full range of diagnostic tests for patients with endocrine disorders includes thyroid, parathyroid, pituitary, pancreas, adrenal, and gonadal testing.
Blood gas analysis is performed on venous, arterial, and cord blood using blood gas analyzers to determine the acid-base status of an individual. The blood gas analyzers measures pH, pCO2, pO2, sodium, potassium, chloride, ionized calcium, glucose, and lactate concentrations. A full co-oximetry (oxygen saturation, carboxyhemoglobin, methemoglobin) and derive values for base excess, bicarbonate, p50, and total carbon dioxide are also provided.
Proper specimen collection is vital to ensuring an accurate test result. A fasting specimen is preferred or required for many laboratory tests to reduce possible test interference. Please refer to the individual test listing in the Test Directory for fasting requirements collection requirements.
Clinical chemistry refers to the biochemical analysis of body fluids. It uses chemical reactions to determine the levels of various chemical compounds in bodily fluids. Several simple chemical tests are used to detect and quantify different compounds in blood and urine, the most commonly tested specimens in clinical chemistry.
Techniques such as spectrophotometry, immunoassays, and electrophoresis are also used in clinical chemistry to measure the concentration of substances such as glucose, lipids, enzymes, electrolytes, hormones, proteins, and other metabolic products present in human blood and urine.
Serum is the most common specimen tested - it is obtained by centrifugation of coagulated blood. Serum contains no blood cells or clotting factors but has electrolytes, hormones, antigens, antibodies, and other substances such as drugs, microbes, and proteins not used in coagulation.
Plasma is obtained by centrifugation of uncoagualted blood. It contains blood cells, clotting factors, glucose, electrolytes (such as sodium, magnesium, calcium, chloride), hormones, and proteins (such as albumins, fibrinogen, and globulins).
CSF is a clear fluid present in the brain and spine which is largely similar to blood plasma though it differs by containing nearly no protein. It is usually analyzed in clinical chemistry to identify or rule out meningitis.
For example, high levels of total cholesterol and triglycerides in blood are a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). High-density lipoprotein (HDL) is a good form of cholesterol which offers protection from heart disease whereas low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is a harmful form which is another risk factor for CVD.
For example, levels of the enzyme creatine kinase in the body indicate heart or skeletal muscle damage, alanine aminotransferase or aspartate aminotransferase levels can help diagnose liver disorders, and amylase and lipase levels signal pancreas inflammation or pancreatic carcinoma.
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